The following writing sample was produced during my time at the Artisan Travel Company to advertise a competition to win a trip to Saariselkä.

WIN! A Four Night Aurora Escape to Seek the Northern Lights in Glass Igloos

Saariselkä is located in the far north of Finland, high above the Arctic Circle. Framed by snow-lit pines and remote enough to avoid light pollution, the Northern Lights Village is the perfect base for your nightly Northern Lights hunts. While venturing into the darkness on snowshoes and a snowmobile to seek them sounds like fun, a more relaxing aspect way to spot them will be from your bed, staring into the stars through your glass-roofed Aurora Cabin. We have teamed up with the Aurora Zone to offer a four-night holiday to Saariselkä, allowing one lucky winner to spend their nights seeking the lights in a winter wonderland.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

While viewing these wonders of nature can never be guaranteed, we have a great track record for helping our customers find the Northern Lights. The key is to get as far away from the light pollution as possible – which does seem rather obvious. Our strength as a company is making these journeys into darkness fun. Your first night will introduce you to the Finnish tradition of snowshoeing, which will allow you to walk atop the snowdrifts your guide will lead you through. Once you have found a suitable fenn, you will stop to build a fire and enjoy snacks and hot drinks. Enjoyed your first night watching the skies in this most incredible location? Your second will involve a Northern Lights snowmobile safari, which will combine sports with stargazing to take your trip to new heights.

HUSKIES

As well as your nightly adventures, you will also spend one of your days taking part in a husky safari. This is an unforgettable ride, which will take you and your companion (who can ride together or take a pack each) for a thrilling dog sled trip into the Arctic wilds. Huskies are synonymous with the Arctic and a husky safari is the epitome of a winter adventure: drive your pack through thick Nordic snowdrifts, racing them through the forests which frame your accommodation with cries of “mush” to direct them.  Once you have worked up an appetite through your excitement, you will enjoy a feast of Nordic cuisine in the hotel restaurant.

IGLOOS

It’s not often that folk prefer a sleepless night. Given yours will be spent underneath a panoramic glass roof looking up at the stars, however, we can think of worse things to keep you up. Your accommodation at the Northern Lights Village will be in Aurora Cabins, which boast stylish Scandinavian minimalist design and a half-roof with glass. Though the Northern lights can be elusive, this year has been predicted to be one of the most dazzling by astronomers, given the sun is in the upward phase of its solar cycle. Scared you’ll sleep through them? We also offer an Aurora alert service which you can set to alert you throughout the night.